Nutritional supplementation with arginine protects radiation-induced effects. An experimental study

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effect of L-arginine on the prostate (nonneoplasic) of rats with radiation-induced injury. METHODS: Twenty-nine Wistar rats, male adult, allocated into three groups: Control group (C) was not exposed to irradiation (n=10); Radiated group (R) had undergone pelvic irradiation (n=10); Supplemented and radiated group (R+S) had undergone pelvic irradiation plus L-arginine supplementation (n=9). The animals were observed for signs of toxicity. After euthanization, the prostate was dissected under magnification and stained by hematoxylin and eosin to study acinar structures and stained with Picrosirius red for collagen analysis. RESULTS: After radiation exposure, all animals presented diarrhea, but supplementation with L-arginine reduced this effect. The weight gain in the R+S group was significantly higher than in the C and R groups. In the R+S group the collagen density and the prostate acinar area was similar to the R and C groups. Epithelial height was significantly reduced in group R compared with group C (p<0.0001). When comparing the group R+S with R, a statistical difference was observed to be present (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic radiation promotes systemic effects and some structural modifications in the ventral prostate of rats. These modifications can be prevented by oral supplementation with L-arginine.

Toxicity of Tomotherapy-Based Simultaneous Integrated Boost in Whole-Pelvis Radiation for Prostate Cancer

PURPOSE: The validity of tomotherapy-based simultaneous integrated boost (TOMOSIB) was assessed in terms of acute intestinal/urinary toxicity by comparing with 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in cases of whole-pelvis radiation therapy (WPRT) for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight consecutive patients who underwent curative WPRT were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty six (68.4%) received 3DCRT and the others (31.6%) were treated with TOMOSIB. A local boost to the prostate circumferential area was added to WPRT sequentially for 3DCRT and concomitantly for TOMOSIB. The total median prostate or prostatic bed dose was 64.8 Gy including median 45.0 Gy of WPRT. Acute toxicities were assessed according to RTOG criteria. RESULTS: Overall intestinal toxicity was lower in TOMOSIB group than 3DCRT group (p=0.008). When it was divided into rectum and non-rectum intestine (NRI), TOMOSIB showed borderline superiority only in NRI toxicity (p=0.047). For the urinary toxicity, there was no significant difference between two groups (p=0.796). On dosimetric analysis for the rectum and bladder, dose delivered to 80% (p<0.001) and volume receiving 25-40 Gy (p<0.001) were remarkably higher in 3DCRT. For the NRI, only maximum dose showed significant results between two groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Intestinal toxicity should be verified with more detailed anatomic categorization such as rectum and NRI. TOMOSIB could not reduce urinary toxicity because of inevitably high dose exposure to the prostatic urethra. Current dosimetry system did not properly reflect intestinal/urinary toxicity, and suitable dosimetric guidelines are needed in TOMOSIB.

Toxicity of Tomotherapy-Based Simultaneous Integrated Boost in Whole-Pelvis Radiation for Prostate Cancer

PURPOSE: The validity of tomotherapy-based simultaneous integrated boost (TOMOSIB) was assessed in terms of acute intestinal/urinary toxicity by comparing with 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in cases of whole-pelvis radiation therapy (WPRT) for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight consecutive patients who underwent curative WPRT were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty six (68.4%) received 3DCRT and the others (31.6%) were treated with TOMOSIB. A local boost to the prostate circumferential area was added to WPRT sequentially for 3DCRT and concomitantly for TOMOSIB. The total median prostate or prostatic bed dose was 64.8 Gy including median 45.0 Gy of WPRT. Acute toxicities were assessed according to RTOG criteria. RESULTS: Overall intestinal toxicity was lower in TOMOSIB group than 3DCRT group (p=0.008). When it was divided into rectum and non-rectum intestine (NRI), TOMOSIB showed borderline superiority only in NRI toxicity (p=0.047). For the urinary toxicity, there was no significant difference between two groups (p=0.796). On dosimetric analysis for the rectum and bladder, dose delivered to 80% (p<0.001) and volume receiving 25-40 Gy (p<0.001) were remarkably higher in 3DCRT. For the NRI, only maximum dose showed significant results between two groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Intestinal toxicity should be verified with more detailed anatomic categorization such as rectum and NRI. TOMOSIB could not reduce urinary toxicity because of inevitably high dose exposure to the prostatic urethra. Current dosimetry system did not properly reflect intestinal/urinary toxicity, and suitable dosimetric guidelines are needed in TOMOSIB.

Cementless bilateral total hip arthroplasty in a patient with a history of pelvic irradiation for sarcoma botryoides

To report a case of bilateral secondary coxarthrosis in a patient with a history of pelvic irradiation for sarcoma botryoides. The patient had surgery and radiation therapy for sarcoma botryoides when she was 18 months old. Left and right cement-less total hip arthroplasties were performed at the age of 36 and 40 years, respectively. Harris hip scores improved from 28.4 to 93 on the left hip after 84 months of follow-up and from 29.5 to 91.3 on the right hip after 38 months of follow-up. Cementless total hip arthroplasty may be considered for irradiated hips, if radiation damage in bone has been stable for a long period of time

Does hyperbaric oxygen administration decrease side effect and improve quality of life after pelvic radiation?

AIM: to evaluate the influence of HBOT to the side effect and quality of life after pelvic radiation. METHODS: this is an open randomized, parallel, prospective study conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oncology Division and Department of Radiotherapy. Endoscopy procedure was performed in Department of Internal Medicine and tissue biopsy in Department of Pathology Anatomy. The hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was done in Dr. Mintohardjo, Navy Seal Hospital Jakarta. The side effect was measured using LENT SOMA scale ratio, the quality of life used the Karnofsky score. The difference of two mean was analyzed using student t test. RESULTS: of 32 patients undergoing HBOT and 33 patients as control, the ratio of ASE of control group was 44.1+/-28.2%, HBOT group was 0.7+/-30.1%; p<0.001; the LSE of control group was 33.6+/-57.6%, HBOT group was -19.6+/-69.4%; p=0.008. Quality of life of control group after intervention was 4.5+/-10.7%; HBOT group was 19.7+/-9.6%; p <0.001. After 6 months of intervention the quality of life was 2.5+/-16.1% in the control group, and HBOT group was 15.2+/-14.7%; p =0.007. CONCLUSION: the study showed that HBOT decreased acute and late side effect, also improved the quality of life of patients with proctitis radiation.

Reducing radiation dose to pelvic small bowel in cervical cancer patients treated with Ir-192 intracavitary brachytherapy by using urinary bladder distension.

OBJECTIVES: Several techniques and devices have been used in an attempt to minimize radiation dose to gastrointestinal tract while giving pelvic radiation. We evaluated the effect of urinary bladder distension to displace pelvic small bowel out of intracavitary brachytherapy field to minimize radiation dose to small bowel in cervical cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Eleven cervical cancer patients who received Ir-192 intracavitary brachytherapy with tandem and transverse ovoids were included in this study. Oral contrast material was used to visualize pelvic small bowel. Urinary bladder was distended by injection 125-200 ml. normal saline solution. Pelvic radiograph, anteroposterior and lateral view, was performed before and after bladder distention for brachytherapy treatment planning and comparing radiation dose at small bowel. RESULTS: The average maximum radiation dose at small bowel before and after bladder distension were 3123 cGy and 1998 cGy respectively. The summation of small bowel dose was reduced 54.17% (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Urinary bladder distension could effectively displace pelvic small bowel and reduce the radiation dose to small bowel from Ir-192 intracavitary brachytherapy in cervical cancer patients.

Pelvic irradiation for obese patients: better homogeneity and depth dose data

Isodose curves are measured from a fiat surface and usually not exactly applicable to the contour of the patient. For irradiation of irregular surfaces, beam modification is often desirable. However, for obese patients, pelvic irradiation is more complicated specially if high energy linear accelerators are not available. The designed apparatus consists of a pair of rigid wood plates with 4 graduated metal bars. It is fabricated in such a way that allows for easy, reproducible flattening and compression of the anterior abdominal wall. It also allows for under couch irradiation. Better homogenity and depth dose data can be easily achieved with reduction of total given and total integral doses. Also, doses to the skin creases and subcutaneous tissues are minimized. Radiation course can be better tolerated by the patient

Complicaciones urológicas de la radioterapia pélvica / Urologic complications in pelvic radiotherapy

Las neoplasias ginecológicas suelen tratarse mediante radioterapia y cirugía, ya sea aisladamente o en combinación. Sus resultados son buenos en cuanto al control de la enfermedad, y en la literatura internacional se informa que sus complicaciones son raras. Este estudio se realizó a causa de la elevada demanda de consultas y hospitalizaciones en el servicio en que trabajan los autores por parte de pacientes complicadas. Se revisaron los expedientes de 136 pacientes con una o varias complicaciones relacionadas con la radioterapia con el fin de identificar la incidencia de complicaciones, los tipos de tratamiento recibidos y las intervenciones quirúrgicas realizadas para resolverlas. Se encontraron diez complicaciones, las tres principales cistitis hemorrágicas, estenosis ureteral y estenosis uretral, con 118, 56 y 32 casos respectivamente, para una incidencia global de 4.8, 2.3 y 1.3 en cada variedad. Se otorgaron 1 640 consultas (12 por paciente en promedio) y la hospitalización sumó 2 382 días (17.5 por paciente). Además, se realizaron 571 intervenciones quirúrgicas mayores o menores por esta causa durante un periodo de siete años. Se presentan los resultados y las experiencias en el hospital en que trabajan los autores

Reservatório colônico e mitrofanoff gástrico com método alternativo de desderivaçäo urinária / Colonic reservoir and grastric mitrofanoff as an alternative method of urinary undiversion

Pacientes submetidos a radioterapia pélvica poderäo necessitar de derivaçöes urinárias, seja por recidiva local, estenose ureteral ou cistite actínica grave. A maioria das técnicas descritas para a confecçäo de reservatórios continentes exigem o emprego de segmentos íleocolônicos que sofrem igualmente os efeitos deletérios da irradiaçäo. Nesta situaçäo, o estômago tem sido nova opçäo primária. Os autores relatam dois casos em que houve falha no uso de tecido gástrico na reconstruçäo urinária pós-radioterapia, discutem uma proposta alternativa para resoluçäo desta situaçäo, aspectos técnicos envolvidos e os resultados iniciais

"Tratar todos os campos por dia?" - Questionando um velho dogma (ou, radioterapia na pelve: especulações sobre fracionamento) / Treating all fields in every radiotherapy session? - Questionig the old dogma

Há mais de vinte anos Wilson e Hall publicavam artigo sugerindo que todos os campos fossem tratados em cada sessão de radioterapia (RT), baseados em cálculos que envolviam o conceito de NSD (ou TDF). O artigo considerava tratamento feitos com cobalto a uma SSD=70cm. Começava mais um tradicional dogma da RT: da necessidade de se irradiar todos os campo todos os dias. no Brasil, a maioria dos serviços trabalha com unidade de cobalto ou aceleradores lineares de baixa energia, em que esta necessidade é mais forte. Entretanto, o grande volume de pacientes e as filas de espera acabaram forçando-nos a não tratar todos os campos por dia. Particularmente, os campos pélvicos têm sido planejados com quatro campos (tijolo), mas apenas dois têm sido irradiados diariamente, em forma de rodízio... No sistema de rodízio mencionado, mesmo o valor de TDF dos tecidos subcutâneo dos campos AP-PA não chega a esse número. Isso talvez explique o fato de não aparecer fibroses, apesar de várias análises sobre esses conceitos e questiona o elho dogma da obrigatoriedade de se irradiar todos os campos por dia.

The experience in using whole pelvic irradiation in management of massive bleeding from carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

At the Radiation Therapy Section, Ramathibodi Hospital, from June 1, 1981 to May 31, 1991, there were 35 out of 1,683 new cases of carcinoma of the uterine cervix which presented with massive bleeding per vagina. All were treated via cobalt-60 teletherapy covering the whole pelvic region by 12 x 12 cm2 or 16 x 16 cm2 field sizes. Eighteen cases received a radiation dose of 300 cGy/fraction while 16 cases received 400 cGy and one case received 600 cGy. All had bleeding controlled within 2-6 fractions, twenty-two cases (62.9%) within 3 fractions and 34 cases (97.1%) within 5 fractions. There was no severe acute complication in all patients. In 10 patients who were followed up to the range of 3-70 months, median 16.5 showed no severe late complications.